NRG Stadium Game Day Guide
Houston Texans · Houston, TX
Know Before You Go
Essential details checked against official venue information.
- Bag policy
NRG Stadium permits clear bags up to 12 x 6 x 12 inches, one-gallon clear freezer bags, and small clutches up to 4.5 x 6.5 inches.
Applies to: Houston Texans games
- Medically necessary bags are allowed after inspection.
- Gate opening
NRG Stadium's main gates open 90 minutes before kickoff for Texans games.
Applies to: Houston Texans games
- Club and suite entrances open two hours before kickoff.
- Mobile tickets
Texans game tickets and parking passes are mobile-only.
Applies to: Houston Texans games
- Open the passes before traveling to NRG Stadium and save them to a mobile wallet when available.
- Re-entry
A ticket cannot be used to re-enter NRG Stadium after it has been scanned for entry.
Applies to: Houston Texans games
- Prohibited items
NRG Stadium prohibits weapons, noncompliant bags, coolers, fireworks, selfie sticks, lasers, outside food and drink, noisemakers, and other listed items.
Applies to: Houston Texans games
- Review the live A-Z guide before arrival for the complete list.
- First aid
First Aid stations are near Sections 120, 140, 327, 355, 525, and 528.
Applies to: Houston Texans games
- Contact the nearest stadium employee for emergency medical assistance.
- Nursing and lactation
A private nursing room is available at the Guest Experience booth near Section 133.
Applies to: Houston Texans games
- Breast pumps, formula, and a small soft-sided cooler are permitted after screening.
- Family restrooms
Accessible family restrooms with changing tables are available on the 100, 300, and 500 levels.
Applies to: Houston Texans games
- Tickets for children
Every child age two or older needs a ticket for a Texans game.
Applies to: Houston Texans games
- Guest services
Guest Experience booths are near Sections 113, 133, 319, 346, 517, and 543.
Applies to: Houston Texans games
- For assistance during a game, text the issue and location to 832-241-0202.
- Service animals
Task-trained service dogs and service dogs in training are permitted at NRG Stadium; emotional-support animals are not.
Applies to: Houston Texans games
- Guest Experience may relocate a party when needed to safely accommodate the animal.
- Smoking and vaping
Smoking and vaping are prohibited in seating areas and concourses at NRG Stadium.
Applies to: Houston Texans games
- Designated smoking terraces are available on each level and side but may close for an event.
Game Day Timeline
What the day looks like at NRG Stadium, hour by hour.
Lots Open for Tailgating
NRG Park lots open for tailgating. BBQ smokers fire up early, brisket needs time. Blue Lot fills first.
Tailgate Scene Peaks
The lots transform into a massive Texas BBQ cookoff. Brisket, sausage links, and Tex-Mex spread across every tailgate. Karbach and Saint Arnold craft beers flow freely.
Gates Open
Stadium gates open. Head inside early to explore the Texans Grille area and grab brisket without the long lines.
Player Warmups
Players take the field for warmups. The 100-level end zone sections offer the best close-up views.
Find Your Seats
Grab your Gulf shrimp po'boy and settle in. The Bull Pen pregame entrance and Toro's antics are about to kick off.
Game Time
The crowd erupts under the retractable roof. The Bull Pen pyrotechnics mark player intros. Houston's 72,000+ fans bring serious energy.
Exit Strategy
METRORail handles post-game crowds well. Rideshare pickup is on Kirby Drive. Or walk back to your tailgate, many fans continue the BBQ after the game.
Tips & Fan Reports
The north and east end of the stadium gets the sun at game times when the roof is open. Check the clear bag policy on the NRG or Texans website so you don't have to go back to your car with stuff.
Arrive early, Blue Lot tailgating is legendary and the BBQ culture is the real pregame show.
The retractable roof keeps it comfortable inside but the walk from the parking lot in September Houston heat will drench you. Bring a towel.
The retractable roof keeps the stadium climate-controlled, but dress for outdoor tailgating in Houston heat, sunscreen, hat, and water.
Try the brisket sandwich inside the stadium, Houston BBQ is world-class and the stadium version delivers.
METRORail to the NRG Park station is $1.25 and drops you right there. Way better than sitting in 610 traffic for an hour postgame.
Blue Lot tailgating is legendary. Houston BBQ cooked in a parking lot is the real pregame show. Arrive 3+ hours early and bring your appetite.
Weather
NRG Stadium has a retractable roof, so these are the conditions for the walk in and the pregame, and the roof decides the rest.
Across the NFL season the warmest month is September, with an average high of 89°F, and the coldest is January, when the average low is 46°F. September is the wettest month at 5.8 inches and November the driest at 3.9 inches.
That January low ranks 26th coldest of the 32 NFL venues, and September here ranks 4th wettest.
September
5.8 inchesOctober
5.8 inchesNovember
3.9 inchesDecember
4.3 inchesJanuary
4.1 inchesHouston Texans Clear Bag Policy
Most venues require a clear bag. Get an approved one before you travel.
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How We Checked This Page
Every section below names the source it was read from and the day it was read. Where we could not reach a published figure, the page says so rather than presenting an estimate as a checked fact.
- Game day timeline
Gate opening time checked against the venue's own gate-opening policy: NRG Stadium's main gates open 90 minutes before kickoff for Texans games.
- Weather
NOAA 1991-2020 Climate Normals
- Venue policies
Current Houston Texans NRG Stadium A-Z and accessibility guides reviewed for all structured venue-policy topics.